Sylvanus Nimely Returns To Lone Star With A Chance To End Five-Year International Goal Drought

Monrovia, Liberia:Sylvanus Nimely is back in the Liberia national team setup, almost five years after his last appearance, and the 28-year-old forward will be hoping his recent club form can finally translate into goals for the Lone Star when Liberia begins its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Nimely was born in Monrovia on September 4, 1998, and made his senior international debut for Liberia at just 15 years old, coming on in the 70th minute for Samuel Thompson in Liberia’s 4-1 defeat to Angola in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on September 7, 2013.

His international career, however, has never developed into the goalscoring record expected from a player who has spent much of his professional career playing as a forward. Nimely has made 12 appearances for Liberia without scoring, according to available national-team records. His most recent appearance came on November 13, 2021, against Nigeria in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, when he started before being replaced by Peter Wilson.

That Nigeria match marked the beginning of a lengthy international absence. Nimely was 23 at the time and had entered the game with considerable European experience, including spells with Spartak Moscow and Ilves in Finland. He has since continued his career across Europe and Central Asia, representing clubs including NK Solin, Termez Surkhon, Sumgayit and Neftchi Fergana before moving to Kokand 1912. 

What makes his return interesting is that his current selection is being supported by club form rather than his international record. Nimely has been producing goals and assists for Kokand 1912 in Uzbekistan, with recent reports crediting him with 10 goals and five assists in 21 matches across competitions, making him one of the club's leading attacking contributors. 

His recent form has continued to attract attention, with reports of Nimely scoring and assisting during his current spell in Uzbekistan. Another recent statistical source lists him among the attacking contributors in the 2026 season, while his career record shows that his most productive period previously came at Termez Surkhon, where he scored 12 goals in 30 appearances during the 2023–24 season. 

Nimely's selection therefore gives Head Coach Mohammed Erradi an experienced attacking option who has played in several European and Asian leagues and knows what international football demands. More importantly, his ability to play as a centre-forward or from the right side could give Liberia another option alongside Kpah Sherman, Peter Wilson, Edward Ledlum and the other attacking players in the squad.

But the major question will be whether Nimely can finally turn his club productivity into international goals. Twelve Liberia appearances, zero goals and no national-team appearance since November 2021 is a difficult record for a forward, but his return comes at a time when his club performances suggest he may be entering the qualifiers with greater confidence than during his previous international spell. 

For Nimely, the Rwanda match could therefore represent more than just a return to the Lone Star. It is an opportunity to rewrite an international record that has remained unchanged for nearly five years—and finally score his first senior goal for Liberia.